March 31, 2017
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THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION
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Friday, March 31, 2017
Congratulations, Lady Rebels!! You Showed Your Power and Brought Home the Win!
The Greeneville Sun
Got Power?
What happens when you don’t?
About the cover... The cover of this commemorative section features South Greene senior Lyndsey Cutshaw with the school’s six state championship trophies. The photo was taken at South Greene High School by photographer Hobe Brunson of Knoxville.
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Sports Writers: Tate Russell, Wayne Phillips, Seth Butler Photographers: Darren Reese, Seth Butler, Hobe Brunson Design: Darren Reese
Ad Director: Artie Wehenkel Ad Designs: Marie Cox, Melanie Hilliard, Jenna Mays Ad Sales: Diane Shelton, Sandi Blalock, Wendy Wilder, Tammy Waldroup, Tanya Hensley Distribution: Dale Long Publisher: Gregg K. Jones South Greene Lady Rebel 2017 Championship section, March 2017, Copyright © 2017, Greeneville Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Greeneville, Tennessee. Call 423-638-4181, send email to sports@greenevillesun.com for customer service. Go to GreenevilleSun.com for MyCapture of our photographs for personal use. 121 W. Summer St., Greeneville, TN 37743
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Lady Rebels, may you always cherish this season and the memories you made along the way
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came to the Greeneville Sun in 2012 after spending almost 10 years at my hometown newspaper. During that decade, I covered one state championship team – the Jefferson County High School girls’ golf team in 2007. That team consisted of three players. I never covered a championship in any of the major high school sports. In fact, during that time I only covered one team (softball in 2010) that even made it to the state tournament. And then I came to Greene County, and boy, have I been blessed. In less than five years, I’ve been fortunate enough to cover two basketball team state championships, plus two girls’ soccer, a softball, a wrestling, a boys’ track & field, and a boys’ cross country. Not to mention several local athletes in track and field, wrestling and cross country who have captured individual state titles. The latest came earlier this month when the South Greene girls’ basketball team claimed the gold ball for the second consecutive year and the sixth time in program history. To the Lady Rebels, first of all, congratulations! There is no greater accomplishment as an athlete than to reach the pinnacle of your sport, and more importantly to do it with your friends. As a prep student-athlete, odds are that when you take off your school’s jersey for the final time, that will bring an end to your playing career. A few of you will continue on to the college level, but most of you won’t. A very select group may even have the opportunity to play professionally on down the road. But for most of you, this is the hey-day of your athletic career. Wherever life takes you from here, you will always remember everything about competing at the state tournament, from the places you ate as a team to hearing that final horn sounding and hoisting the state championship trophy. As a newspaper journalist, I am fortunate enough the live vicariously through you. And I get many of the same feelings when covering a state tournament that you athletes get participating in it. Working at a community newspaper, covering student-athletes on their biggest stage is the highlight of my career. When people ask me what have been some of my favorite things I’ve covered, I don’t think about the professional sporting event or the college games, the NASCAR races or the black-tie affairs.
I think about South Greene’s Lyndsey Cutshaw playing with the flu and having to be helped off the court while carrying the state championship trophy this year. I think about Rachel Crum’s three-pointer at the buzzer that sent South Greene into the state semifinals back in 2015. I think about Greeneville soccer player Katelynn Hadjopoulos coming off the field and bawling tears in the arms of head coach John Eiskamp in the final seconds of the Lady Devils’ state championship win in 2015. I think about Greeneville senior softball player Selena Leon collapsing in centerfield and being mobbed by teammates when the final out was recorded in the Lady Devils’ state sectional win in 2015, which sent them to the state tournament for the first time in school history. Whether it’s the state tournament, or a district tournament, or maybe just an important regular season game, times likes these are the “Super Bowl” in the lives of many of the student-athletes I cover. And so we try to approach them as if I’m covering the Super Bowl. Whether it’s the stories or the pictures or the design or the social media, my goal is to highlight the accomplishments of as many student-athletes in Greene County as I possibly can. I guess where I’m going with this is, let us not take these moments for granted. Let it not be just about the wins and losses. I worked in this business a long time before I ever got to cover state tournaments on a regular basis. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t plenty of memorable moments that I witnessed during that time. Cherish the relationships. Cherish the small things. To the Lady Rebels, be proud of what you have accomplished. You will be remembered as one of the greatest groups of girls’ basketball players in your school’s history. And at South Greene High School, that’s saying something. Hopefully this commemorative section will be something you will keep and cherish, but more importantly, hopefully it will be a reminder of the hard work you put into this season and the memories you made along the way. Thank you to the South Greene players, coaches, parents and fans for letting us go on this journey with you. Until next season...
Darren Reese Sun Sports Editor
THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION
Friday, March 31, 2017
CONGRATULATIONS TO SOUTH GREENE LADY REBELS!
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2017 TSSAA CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
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REBEL REPEAT Saturday, March 11, 2017 • The Murphy Center • Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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URFREESBORO – Last year they were called the ‘Baby Rebels’. Now you can call them the ‘Back To Back Rebels’. In the rich history of South Greene girls’ basketball, this group will be considered one of the greatest to ever take the court on Rebel Hill. After not losing a senior off last year’s state championship team, the Lady Rebels hoisted the gold ball once again Saturday night under the bright lights of the Murphy Center. Led by another steady performance from Miss Basketball finalist Taylor Lamb, and complemented by a three-point showcase from reserve Kinsley Wykle, South Greene weathered the Clarkrange storm and pulled away for a 66-57 win in the Class A State Tournament finals. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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Friday, March 31, 2017
Congratulations, Lady Rebels, for bringing home the gold! CENTURY 21 Legacy ®
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Friday, March 31, 2017
State Championship Game
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
The state title is the sixth in program history for the Lady Rebels, which moves them into a tie for fourth place all-time in the state of Tennessee. The South Greene championships have all come in three sets of repeats (1987-88, 1991-92, 2016-17). “Words can’t describe the feeling that we have,” South Greene head coach Stephen Gregg said. “It’s nothing that I did. It’s all these girls right here who put in the work every day.” “This year, it’s more of a relief for me. Last year we thought we could win it but no one else was really giving us a chance. This year, we took everybody’s best shot. We made a lot of special memories this year and we won it for our lone senior.” Speaking of the only senior on this year’s South Greene roster, Lyndsey Cutshaw played the final two games of the state tournament with flu-like symptoms. She woke up Friday morning throwing up and battled the nausea and dehyrdation the rest of the Lady Rebels’ stay in Murfreesboro. Cutshaw played 17 minutes and scored three points in her final game in a South Greene uniform. After her team received the state championship trophy, she went to the locker room and received fluids through an IV for the second consecutive night. “She’s just as much a part of this as any of us,” Gregg said of Cutshaw. “We are thrilled to send her off with another gold ball.” Lamb was named the Most Valuable Player of the state tournament for the second consecutive year. The junior forward recorded a double-double in the title game with 19 points and ten rebounds.
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BY THE NUMBERS
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3-pointers hit by reserve Kinsley Wykle
State championships South Greene has won in girls’ basketball
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Offensive rebounds collected by Miss Basketball finalist Taylor Lamb
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South Greene players (l-r) Hailey Howlett, Morgan Williams, Kinsley Wykle, Braelyn Wykle and Taylor Lamb celebrate following the state championship game against Clarkrange in Murfreesboro.
Seven of her boards came on the offensive end, as the Lady Rebels held a 16-3 advantage in offensive rebounds over Clarkrange. The Lady Buffaloes shot 62.9 percent from the floor for the game (22-of-35), and never made less than 50 percent of their shots in any given quarter, but South Greene’s ability to create secondchance opportunities for itself made the difference. South Greene players Braelyn Wykle, Kinsley Wykle and Morgan Williams were also named to the All-State Tournament Team. “This one is definitely better,” Lamb said of the state title. “Now we’ve got two.” Lamb was going up against Clarkrange’s Kara Meadows, who
won the Class A Miss Basketball award in a ceremony held four nights earlier. Lamb was also one of three finalists for the award, though she said the individual matchup wasn’t what fueled her motivation Saturday night. Meadows finished with 28 points and six rebounds, though nine of those came in the second quarter when Lamb was sidelined the majority of the period after picking up her second foul. Lamb returned in the second half to score 13 points as South Greene eventually pulled away from a 37-36 halftime advantage. Lamb scored six points in a one-minute, 39-second stretch in CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Number of points, rebounds recorded by reserve T.K. Franklin in the fourth quarter.
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How many more field goals South Greene attempted than Clarkrange
16-3
The margin South Greene had over Clarkrange in offensive rebounds
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Minutes senior Lyndsey Cutshaw played with flu-like symptoms
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Points Taylor Lamb had in completing her double-double, which earned her tournament MVP honors for the second straight year
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THE GREENEVILLE SUN SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION
Lady Rebels...
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Congratulations!
Miranda and her husband Bart Myers were both graduates of SGHS and are proud supporters of the Lady Rebel program. “I played for the Lady Rebels when we went to State and know the feeling of running out on the court at MTSU. We currently have a freshman son that is a big part of the sports program at SGHS.” ~Miranda Myers
Brandy and her husband Patrick Birdwell live in the South Greene community. Patrick is a graduate of South Greene. “We support the Lady Rebels every year and enjoy watching them play. Our daughter will be attending South Greene as well.” ~Brandy Birdwell
Miranda Myers
Brandy Birdwell
Cell 423-552-8496
Cell 423-823-1342
Realtor
Miranda.mirandamyers @yahoo.com
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THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION FROM PAGE 6
the fourth quarter that helped put the Lady Rebels up 66-55 with 1:31 left in the game. “There’s always motivation to beat any team,” Lamb said. “We’re at the state tournament, so all of us are going to play our hardest no matter who we are going up against.” Kinsley Wykle didn’t get the start, but she entered the game early to help spell Cutshaw. The junior guard didn’t disappoint either. She made a three-pointer to end the first quarter that put South Greene up 21-12. She made two more in the second frame, which turned into a longdistance shootout. Both teams hit four threepointers in the quarter.
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Friday, March 31, 2017
Clarkrange was 9-of-11 from the field in the stanza as it stormed back to pull within one at the break. For the game, the Lady Rebels were 9-of-21 from downtown while Clarkrange was 6-of-14. Kinsley Wykle finished 5-of-10 from behind the arc and tallied 15 points. “We work on a lot of insideout in practice,” Wykle said, “so whenever Taylor kicks it out to me, I’m ready to knock it down.” Clarkrange eventually tied the game with 5:23 showing in the third quarter, but it was all downhill from there for the Lady Buffaloes as South Greene went on a 12-1 run to take a 54-43 cushion into the final eight minutes. Kinsley Wykle and Braelyn
Wykle each had a three during the stretch, while Lamb scored four points. T.K. Franklin capped the run as part of her seven-point, four-rebound second half off the bench. Franklin converted a three-point play to start the fourth quarter, which gave the Lady Rebels their largest lead of the game at 57-43. Braelyn Wykle finished with nine points in the win, followed by Franklin and Williams with seven each. Hannah Garrett had 11 points for the Lady Buffaloes, but none after halftime. South Greene finishes the season with a 35-4 overall record. Clarkrange, which was going for its ninth state championship in program history, ends up 27-11.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BOX SCORE SOUTH GREENE
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CLARKRANGE
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24
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SOUTH GREENE (35-4 overall record) # PLAYER FG-FGA 3P-3PA FT-FTA OREB-DREB PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 11 Wykle, Braelyn 3-9 1-5 2-3 0-3 2 9 5 2 0 3 32 14 Reaves, Ashlyn 2-7 2-5 0-1 2-0 1 6 0 1 0 1 23 20 Cutshaw, Lyndsey 1-2 1-1 0-0 1-0 0 3 2 0 0 1 17 22 Williams, Morgan 2-5 0-0 3-3 1-0 2 7 2 1 0 1 22 32 Lamb, Taylor 7-12 0-0 5-6 7-3 3 19 3 3 0 1 27 10 Wykle, Kinsley 5-10 5-10 0-0 0-1 0 15 0 1 0 0 24 12 Franklin, T.K. 2-6 0-0 3-3 2-2 4 7 2 0 0 1 15 24 Franklin, Katilynn 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+ 30 Collins, Mercedes 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+ 31 Howlett, Haile 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+ TEAM 3-0 Total 22-51 9-21 13-16 16-10 12 66 14 9 0 9 160
CLARKRANGE (27-11 overall record) # PLAYER FG-FGA 3P-3PA FT-FTA OREB-DREB PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 15 Crabtree, Charity 1-2 0-0 1-2 1-7 4 3 5 2 0 1 24 22 Bush, Allison 1-3 1-3 2-2 0-0 2 5 3 1 0 0 32 24 Bush, Breanna 4-8 1-4 0-0 0-1 1 9 3 2 0 0 27 33 Garrett, Hannah 4-5 3-4 0-0 0-3 1 11 3 1 2 1 32 41 Meadows, Kara 12-17 1-3 3-3 1-5 3 28 0 4 1 0 32 35 Stover, Reece 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 3 1 2 2 0 0 13 TEAM 1-0 Total 22-35 6-14 7-9 3-16 14 57 16 13 3 2 160
The South Greene girls’ basketball team is pictured immediately after defeating Clarkrange for the 2017 TSSAA Class A state title at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro. Pictured at right is sophomore Braelyn Wykle sharing the state championship trophy with some fans.
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Winning
GOLD By WAYNE PHILLIPS Sports Editor Emeritus
Never Gets Old
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THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION
inning championships never gets old. Sitting along press row in Murfreesboro’s Murphy Center Saturday night, it came time to introduce the starting lineups for the TSSAA State Championship game between South Greene and Clarkrange. When the lights lowered to near darkness,
Friday, March 31, 2017
and the spotlights began roaming around the playing floor, and the public address announcer began calling out the names of the starting players, I could feel goose bumps popping up. I thought to myself, “Man, if you can’t get excited about this, you must be dead!” CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
South Greene junior Taylor Lamb (right) shows excitement as the Lady Rebels receive the 2017 Class A state championship trophy at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro.
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Congratulations, Lady Rebels From the Team at Atchley Drug Center
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FROM PAGE 9
It’s been that way for many years now, for whatever sport I might have been covering for the past 40-plus years, regardless of the local school involved. Playing for championships is what it’s all about, and if you love sports, then it’s a feeling like no other. I have a fondness for Murphy Center, “The Glass House” as it’s often referred to, mainly because I’ve spent so much time in that building over the years. As wife Susie and I drove into the parking lot on Thursday, she called it right when she said, “we’ve seen some good times and bad times in that place.” There have been many losses, not just by South Greene, whose ladies have been here competing for a state title more than any other school in the state, but other schools, girls and boys alike, over the past decades. But the good times, the wins, although not as many of those as the losses, far outweigh the bad times. Making a championship game is difficult. There’s pressure involved that only the most seasoned can understand. That’s why there’s something to be said for South Greene’s appearance in 10 title games since 1986. I’ve seen each of those games, and every one of them has a special story attached to it. I remember well that first one in 1986. Many long-time South Greene fans will, too. Larry Ricker had arrived on the scene as coach in 1984 and they made the state trip that first season, but lost to Marshall County in the first round. They didn’t make it in 1985, but in 1986 the arrival of Debbie Hawhee and Nicole Hopson had South Greene ready to roll. East Tennessee girls’ basketball never got much recognition at the time (the mid-state powers were just too hard to beat), and the Rebels were not favored to win this year. But they made it to the finals against Nashville David Lipscomb. They had Lipscomb on the ropes, with Lipscomb’s standout Miss Basketball Amy Fuller on the verge of fouling
out of the game in the fourth quarter. When a referee’s whistle blew late in the contest and the finger was pointed toward Fuller, the Rebel faithful thought she was a goner. Fuller went to the official and pled her case, and for whatever reason, the call was made on another player. Whether Fuller fouling out would have made a difference will never be known. The Rebels brought home the Silver Ball, their first state runnerup trophy. The next year was arguably one of the best teams in the history of the storied program as Hawhee, who signed with the University of Tennessee, and Hopson, who went on to excel at East Tennessee State University, led the team to a 39-0 record and the first championship for a school who had been a visitor to the state’s final eight many times. South Greene made it back-to-back titles with another Gold Ball in 1988. They accomplished that feat again in 1991 and 1992. In the 1991 tourney, they had to beat nationally ranked Livingston Academy in the semifinals to get a return engagement with Region 1 rival Unicoi County, proving at that time that East Tennessee’s Region 1-AA was the strongest region in the state. In 1992 they beat Meigs County for another Gold Ball. Larry Ricker’s legacy as a basketball coach is unquestioned. Now deceased, he is a member of the TSSAA Hall of Fame. Clarkrange, the team who South Greene defeated for this year’s title, is coached by Lamar Rogers, another Hall of Famer who is in his 41st year of coaching the Buffaloes. He remembers Coach Ricker. “I became acquainted with Larry and we usually attended summer camp together,” Rogers recalled. “We would try to work it out to play each other. Of course he was (Class) AA at the time and we were (Class) A, but we liked to play because we both had good programs and it was good for us. I think this is the first time (in this year’s title game) that we’ve played South Greene and it really meant something.” Now the current crop of Rebels has
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won back-to-back championships, 2016 and 2017. Coach Stephen Gregg has begun his own legacy, while at the same time continuing the tradition on Rebel Hill. While there’s no doubt this group of Rebels is extremely talented, give the coach some credit, too. “The pressure this year has been worse than last year,” he explained after Saturday’s Gold Ball had been won. “Last year we weren’t expected to win it, with all the youth we had. This year, the target was on our back from day one.” Coaches always try to get their teams to peak at tournament time, and Gregg had the Rebels playing their best ball of the year when the district began, and it continued right on through Saturday and the bright lights of Murfreesboro. He was able to adjust during game situations as opposing coaches threw everything they had at trying to stop a team that could hurt them in so many ways. Pickett County, then Summertown, and finally Clarkrange all had some good moments against the Rebels, but when all was said and done, South Greene was just better. They never seemed to tense up, and they played team ball throughout the event, overcoming several obstacles. Braelyn Wykle, the point guard, got into foul trouble against Pickett County and sat a vast amount of first half time. Her teammates picked her up. Lyndsey Cutshaw, the team’s only senior, became ill on the day of the semifinals and had to have IVs before and after the game. Her teammates picked her up.
And needing somebody to lift spirits in the final game, with Cutshaw not close to 100 percent with her illness, and needing somebody to knock down some open 3-pointers, in came junior Kinsley Wykle from the bench and hit five long ones that really surprised Clarkrange. “We just hadn’t seen her play enough to know she could shoot like that,” Rogers said of the elder Wykle sister. “She really hurt us; no doubt.” Things will be different next year as the Rebels return to Class AA ball, as the TSSAA reclassification came around and South Greene High was just barely above the enrollment numbers needed to remain in Class A in basketball. They will join a district next year that could be one of the best in the state. The favorites, In alphabetical order: Chuckey-Doak, who will return a veteran team with a tremendous post attack; Grainger, a traditional power who is always tough; Greeneville, who advanced all the way to Sectional this year before losing to GatlinburgPittman, who advanced to the state final four; and South Greene, who will return all but the graduating Cutshaw. Whoever survives that district race will have a chance to get to play at “The Glass House.” And if one of the local teams gets there, and if the Good Lord is willing to let me see another state tourney, the goose bumps will still be on my arms when the starting lineup is announced.
THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION
Friday, March 31, 2017
Pictured are young South Greene fans (l-r) Bryce Crum, Gavin Dyer and Noah Wright cheering on the Lady Rebels at the state championship game in Murfreesboro.
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Going out on top THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION
Friday, March 31, 2017
Cutshaw battles through a career of injuries and illness to go out as one of the most decorated athletes in school history BY DARREN REESE | Sun Sports Editor
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yndsey Cutshaw was drained – physically...mentally...emotionally. She had just played 17 minutes with the flu in South Greene’s state championship win over Clarkrange. Cutshaw came off the court for the final time with less than a minute remaining in the game and immediately headed to the closest garbage can to throw up. During a timeout in the closing seconds, she was propped up by the 5-foot-10 frame of teammate Taylor Lamb. As South Greene celebrated its sixth title in school history, Cutshaw had to be helped around the court by teammates. Exhausted...nauseated...dehydrated...on the verge of passing out. And still, when the post-game festivities ended, Cutshaw found the energy to head down the ramp from the court and toward the bowels of the Murphy Center by herself. But just before she got to the double doors leading to the locker room hallways, she turned around to take one last look at the bright lights shining on the emptying arena. As she turned around, though, Cutshaw was immediately greeted by the comforting smiles and hugs of nine other girls – her teammates, who were following her just as they had done so many times for the previous two years. Only this time, they weren’t heading into battle. There were no more games to be played, no more opponents waiting on the horizon. The journey was over. They were leaving the court together as a group of 10 for the final time – Cutshaw’s contributions to the rich tradition of South Greene girls’ basketball forever cemented. She didn’t know what to think...what to do. So many emotions hit her at once. And so she just cried. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
South Greene senior Lyndsey Cutshaw (left), who battled the flu during the state tournament, gets a hug from junior Taylor Lamb following the Lady Rebels’ win over Clarkrange in the title game.
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South Greene senior Lyndsey Cutshaw is pictured with the championship trophies from the 2016 and 2017 TSSAA Class A girls’ basketball state tournaments.
Sun photo by Hobe Brunson
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“It all hit me as soon as I took my last steps off of that basketball court, both the feeling of complete satisfaction and then just feeling bittersweet about the whole thing,” Cutshaw said. “As not only my teammates, but my sisters, huddled around me, tears started flowing. Each and every girl on that team has been a blessing to me in some way that I will never forget. We have been with each other through thick and thin, and just knowing that that was my last fling with them made it so hard to say goodbye.” When Cutshaw finally made it to the locker room and took off her Lady Rebels’ jersey for the final time, she had to be given fluids through an IV for the second consecutive night. She said after South Greene’s state semifinal win over Sum-
Friday, March 31, 2017
mertown the night before that “you would have to catch (her) dead” to keep her from playing in the championship game. That statement wasn’t just bravado, as those close to her can attest. In fact, over the course of her South Greene career, there were several instances when Cutshaw pushed her health to the brink. She played sick during the annual Ladies Classic tournament at Hal Henard a couple of years ago and passed out in the locker room after the game. An ambulance had to be called that night. Season before last in volleyball, she insisted on playing in a run-of-the-mill regular season game despite the fact that she had bronchitis. She started having trouble breathing, passed out and had to be taken to the emergency room. Cutshaw even had a history of previous medical issues in
South Greene senior Lyndsey Cutshaw and head coach Stephen Gregg share a hug during one of their final practices together.
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Murfreesboro. Two years ago, she woke up with a stomach bug the night before South Greene’s state semifinal contest against Middleton and had to go to the emergency room. She remained sick throughout game day but gutted out 29 minutes of court time in a 5958 loss. And it’s not just illnesses that Cutshaw has had to battle over the course of her career. She’s had ACL surgery on both knees – the right South Greene senior Lyndsey Cutshaw is pictured with the state one in sixth grade championship trophy after the Lady Rebels’ win over Clarkrange in and the left one in the Class A title game earlier this month. eighth grade. She’s endured four con“I have been faced with a lot Cutshaw out there putting her cussions and three broke fingers. of challenges – both illnesses or body on the line and giving it all She suffered a mid-foot hurting something on my body,” she had for the betterment of the sprain during South Greene’s she said. “Yeah, of course I team, it made them want to do regular season finale this year was scared. However, it was not the same. It made them want to and missed all of the district being scared of just being sick or play hard, not only for themtournament. She was still wearhurt, it was always being scared selves, but for her. ing a walking boot for precauthat I would not get to play ball.” “She’s always there for us,” tionary reasons throughout the “The thought of stopping and South Greene junior Taylor state tournament. not playing ball did not cross my Lamb sad. “She’s out there Despite the track record, mind, for the simple fact that I throwing up for us because she though, Cutshaw’s mother, always remembered what it felt gave it her all.” Candy, insists that her daughter like sitting on the bench for two “She’s never going to quit is actually very healthy, and that years after each of my knee suron us. That’s what makes her a most of her misfortunes have geries. God gave me the ability leader. It makes the rest of us come from her wanting to give to play ball, why not use it?” what to play that much harder everything she has – and then It’s that mentality that has when we see her doing that.” some – for her team. fueled Cutshaw’s success as an South Greene head coach “Lyndsey will be the one that athlete, and it’s one that she has Stephen Gregg said Cutshaw will not tell anyone she is sick tried to pass down to her teambrought that kind of mentality until it gets really bad,” Candy mates over the years. to the program from the mosaid. “She doesn’t want to Last year, Cutshaw was the ment she arrived on Rebel Hill, worry anyone. She has always only junior on a team with no seand the example she set and the been like that.” niors as the Lady Rebels caught legacy she is leaving is one that “She never knows when to everyone by surprise on their future Lady Rebels would be take it easy. She is always worway to a state championship. wise to adopt in years to come. ried about disappointing someThis year, they had the pro“She’s the most gutsy kid one. She has the heart of gold.” verbial target on their backs, and I’ve ever been associated with,” Cutshaw says it has never Cutshaw was the lone senior on Gregg said. “She lays it on the crossed her mind that from time the roster. to time she might need to take it When the younger girls saw easy on herself. CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
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line for the maroon every time she steps on the court. The girls kind of rally to play for her.” “We don’t have enough time for me to tell you Lyndsey Cutshaw stories. I’ve been to hospitals with her. We’ve had the rescue squad come in. That’s just how she is. That’s the type of player she’s always been. She would run through a brick wall for her teammates.” Gregg summed it up after that incident at the 2015 state tournament by saying, “She’s a Cutshaw.” Lyndsey grins when she hears that, and the reputation that comes with her last name is something she takes a lot of pride in. After all, she credits a lot of her success to her older sister, Maelyn, who was a Lady Rebel standout in her own right before just wrapping up a successful playing career at Tusculum College. Growing up, Maelyn was
South Greene senior Lyndsey Cutshaw is pictured with older sister Maelyn during a state championship celebration held earlier this month.
a hero in Lyndsey’s eyes – someone she could look up to, someone who was blazing a trail worthy of following. Fortunately for Lyndsey, Maelyn was all too happy to impart her wisdom to her sister. Sometimes it was words of encouragement, sometimes it came in the form of some elbows in their pick-up games, sometimes it was just the opportunity to watch the example she set. But for those things, Lyndsey will always be grateful. “The thing I learned most from my sister, she never could say to me in words, but it was through her actions,” Cutshaw said. “She was passionate – not only in sports, but everything she did. I would not be half the player or person I am if it was not for my sister. Seeing her work toward her goals and meeting so many of them urged me to want to be just like her. She taught me how to never take anything from anybody.” “Me, Maelyn and Taylor Lamb, ever since we were little we went to the gym on so many Sundays, trying to get better, whether it was volleyball or basketball. If it was not for my sister going, I would have never made those Sunday practices. Life without my sister would be so dull. She has taught me more things than I can count. She is my all-time motivator.” It’s those lessons that she learned from her older sister that Cutshaw tried to bring to the court every time she put on the Lady Rebels’ uniform. She isn’t always the most vocal one on the court, but she always does her best to lead her teammates through her actions. Cutshaw was never the leading scorer during her career. She wasn’t the leading rebounder. She didn’t take a lot of shots. Some nights she didn’t score a point, despite starting and playing a big portion of the minutes.
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Teammates huddle around a crying Lyndsey Cutshaw as they leave the court with the lone senior one last time following their state championship win earlier this month.
It’s not that she couldn’t. She has a solid three-point stroke and can run the court in transition with the best guards in the area. Some games, though, she just felt like her role was different. She unquestionably led the Lady Rebels in other tangibles that aren’t measured on a stat sheet. Defensive intensity. Diving for lose balls. Taking a charge. Getting in the paint and being physical on the boards despite her small stature. One thing is for certain – when she wasn’t on the court, the team felt her absence. “The one thing I hope to leave for the future Lady Rebels is no matter what the circumstances are, give it everything
you have,” Cutshaw said. “One hundred-and-ten percent, from start to finish. From my freshman year to senior year, my demeanor never changed. It was never about offense to me. There are four other people on the court to do that job.” “It takes different roles to make a great team, and we had a great team these past two years. I definitely take pride in the way I have played. When coach Gregg talks about the way I play to others, it feels great and I appreciate the way that he has always been knowing of what type of player I am.” As a result of her perseverance, Cutshaw will graduate from South Greene as one of the
most decorated athletes in school history. She earned All-State honors as a volleyball player twice while leading the Lady Rebels to three state runner-up finishes and a third-place showing. In basketball, she was named to the All-State Tournament Team last season and helped South Greene to a pair of state titles and another semifinal appearance. She is also a district champion on the tennis court. “Lyndsey is just a special kid, and they only come around every once in a while,” Gregg concluded.
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www.greenevillesun.com The South Greene High School cheerleaders were recognized with the TSSAA Sportsmanship Award, presented following the Class A girls’ basketball state championship game between South Greene and Clarkrange at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro. The award is given to the cheerleading team that best represents its school with high ideals of leadership and sportsmanship throughout the entire tournament. The South Greene cheerleaders are coached by Beth Anne Overholt.
Junior Kinsley Wykle makes a pass during the state championship game against Clarkrange.
South Greene head coach Stephen Gregg accepts the coach’s plaque and game ball following the 2017 Class A State Tournament championship game at the Murphy Center.
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South Greene Now Holds Record For Most State Tournament Appearances
T
BY WAYNE PHILLIPS Sports Editor Emeritus
radition: “The passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation…” Legacy: “Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past…” There’ve been lots of stories written and water-cooler conversations about the South Greene Lady Rebels since they won the school’s sixth state championship earlier this month in Murfreesboro, and the words “tradition” and “legacy” are two that have been used regularly. The school has a background in girls’ basketball that is second to none in the state. The Lady Rebels’ trip to the 2017 Class A State Tournament made their 29th appearance at state – more than any other girls’ basketball program in the state. South Greene High School was formed in the 1965-66 school year, a consolidation of Camp Creek High School and St. James High. The Rebels made the school’s first trip to state in 1969, but you have to go back even farther than that to see where the tradition actually began. For long-time observers who can recall those years, both Camp Creek and St. James took their girls’ basketball very seriously, and good teams were the norm rather than the exception. In 1960, Camp Creek began the stream of teams heading to the state tournament in the modern era of basketball. Go back beyond that, and you will probably locate some other teams from Greeneville or Greene County that advanced to be among the elite. But in modern day circles, Camp Creek is credited with making the first trip from the south side of the county. Now if you spring forward to 2017, you will find that there are members of the current team whose parents or grandparents have excelled at South Greene, or at the two schools that formed that institution
50 years ago. Of course in 1960 there were no classifications of schools according to size, and small country schools competed against the larger metropolitan schools. The game was also different in those days in that it was played six-on-six, with three forwards and three guards. Trying to explain how the game was played prior to 1980, when the game was switched over to be like the boys game with five-on-five, is very difficult. The gist was this: the forwards played on the offensive end of the court, while the guards were at the opposite end guarding the other team’s offense. The three forwards had to stay on one end of the court; the guards on the other. They could not cross half court. After a made bucket, the ball was handed to a player standing at center-circle, who inbounded the ball to her team’s offense. Strange, huh? Bobby Bowers was coach of Camp Creek in 1960. His three starting forwards were JoAnne Weems, Shirley Ricker and Colleen Crum. The starting guards were Sherry Moncier, Eddie Reaves and Jean Harrison. The rest of the team, according to old newspaper archives, included Carolyn Averette, Rebecca Myers, Linda Lowery, Janice Moncier, Vada Jo Taylor, Kay Bishop and Mary Johnson. The Bears of Camp Creek won the state trip by taking the regional tournament title over Pittman Center 45-44 and headed off to Nashville. But their visit was short-lived as they lost to McKenzie In the first round. When St. James and Camp Creek consolidated, Claude Wallen, who was coach at St. James, moved to the new facility. In 1969, the Lady Rebels cruised through an undefeated regular season and headed off to Jackson for South Greene’s first visit to state. They won their debut, beating Hendersonville 46-45, but then lost to Bradley.
The starting forwards were Becky Burns, Kathy Payne and Gail Dobson. Dobson went on after graduation from South Greene to help Coach Pat Summitt begin her dynasty at the University of Tennessee by playing for the Lady Vols. Burns, now Becky Erwin, lives near Murfreesboro and was in the seats last weekend to watch the Lady Rebels play. The starting guards were Fawn Collins, Jeanette Parton and Lois Wilhoit. So began the legacy of South Greene basketball. That was the first of 28 appearances, which have resulted in five state championships and three runnerup trophies. Here is a synopsis of the remaining 27 appearances: *1971: Two seasons later Coach Wallen went back to state after pulling one of the most stunning upsets of the year in Sub-State, beating Maryville Everett on Everett’s home floor, 42-40. The Rebels lost to McNairy County, though, 52-47 in the first round of the state. Starting forwards were Gail Dobson, Jennifer Gentry and Gail Collins. The guards were Jeanette Parton, Diana Bird and Lois Wilhoit. *1976: Coach Dwight Renner took over the reins of the Rebels from Coach Wallen in 1976 and began a steady stream of trips to the state tournament. They beat Cleveland 29-27 in Sub-State, but lost to Lewisburg (now Marshall County) 39-32 in the state’s opening round. The tourney was now held in Murfreesboro. The forwards: Lois Scott, Jody Collins and Sandy Ricker. The guards: Tina Ailshie, Ginger Johnson and Dixie Davis. *1977: The classification of teams into Class A, Class AA and Class AAA began in 1977 and the Rebels were back in state in Class AA. They were beaten by Chester County in the first round. The forwards: Jody Collins, Sheila Hall and Sandy Ricker. The
SOUTH GREENE STATE TOURNAMENT SUCCESS YEAR CLASS 1986 AA 1987 AA 1988 AA 1991 AA 1992 AA 1994 AA 2000 AA 2016 A 2017 A
FINISH Runner-Up Champion Champion Champion Champion Runner-Up Runner-Up Champion Champion
RECORD 33-2 39-0 38-1 34-3 37-0 34-2 34-4 35-4 35-4
TITLE GAME L, 51-44 W, 73-49 W, 68-54 W, 58-48 W, 76-61 L, 47-53 L, 41-50 W, 61-55 W, 66-57
STATE TOURNAMENT MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS 1987 Nicole Hopson 1988 Debbie Hawhee 1992 Susan Starnes 2016 Taylor Lamb 2017 Taylor Lamb STATE TOURNAMENT RECORDS Taylor Lamb, best free-throw % (100, 10-10 against Community 2016) Lanna Owens, best free-throw % (100, 10-10 against Cannon Co. 1988) Braelyn Wykle, best 3-point FG % (100, 5-5 against Pickett Co. 2016) Nicole Hopson, third-most points scored in a tournament (86 in 1987)
guards: Ginger Johnson, Dixie Davis and Debbie Davis. *1978: Back to state, but lost again in the first round to the eventual state champ, Livingston Academy, by a 57-56 score. The forwards: Jody Collins, Sheila Hall and Sherriee Kimery. The guards: Sherry Sams, Dixie Davis and Ginger Johnson. *1979: The Rebels fell to Humboldt from West Tennessee 61-52 in the first round. Sherriee Kimery, Rhonda Jones and Judy Hamilton were the forwards. Sherry Sams, Cindy Parham and Debbie Shepherd were the starting guards. *1980: College coaches had been hounding the TSSAA for years to change the rules to five-on-five, and it finally came to pass in the 1980 season. Some coaches worried about how their teams would react, having
to run the entire floor for a full four quarters. But the Rebels went back to state under Coach Renner, and he finally broke through with a state tournament victory, beating Obion County 45-35 in the first round before falling to Lewisburg in a 54-33 decision in the semis. South Greene’s starting five was Rhonda Jones, Cindy Parham, Lisa Brantley, Beth Parham and Cindy Ray. *1981: The Rebels never missed a beat in 1981 and went back to state, but they were victimized by Hendersonville Beech 35-32 in the first round. The starting five for the Rebels: Beth Parham, Lisa Brantley,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
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ColorPg BLACK www.greenevillesun.com FROM PAGE 21 Cindy Ray, Terri Neas and Debbie Shepherd. *1982: In Dwight Renner’s final year as coach, the Rebels went to Murfreesboro with a 32-1 record but drew powerful Giles County in the first round and lost. The starters were the Brantley twins, Lisa and Teresa, along with Beth Parham, Cindy Ray and Terri Neas. *1984: South Greene’s streak of seven straight years to state was snapped in 1983, but Coach Larry Ricker arrived on the scene in 1984 and began a new trend. Under his guidance in the following years, the Rebels would win four state titles, three runnersup, and at times would be ranked by USA Today as one of the top teams in the nation. Ricker’s squad lost to Marshall County in the first round in his 1983 maiden season. His starting lineup consisted of Penny Gunter, Deanna Bowers, Michelle Wedding, Myra Fortner, and a freshman sensation in Nicole Hopson. *1986: South Greene didn’t make it in 1985, but in 1986 they surprised a lot of observers across the state by finishing as runnerup to state champ Nashville Lipscomb, bringing back to the county the first silver ball in school history. Those Rebels beat Grundy County in double overtime 60-54 and then downed Greenbrier in a 5554 thriller in the semis before losing to Lipscomb 51-44 in the finals. The starters: Nicole Hopson, Debbie Hawhee, Tonda Helbert, Donna Fillers and Gwen Cobble. *1987: The 1987 South Greene team was perfect at 39-0, and they brought home the first gold ball. The scores seemed to agree with what many long-time state tourney observers said before the tourney began that this South Greene team was the best squad in the state, regardless of classification. They just rolled over people, beating York 77-56, Goodpasture 75-54 and Cannon County 73-49 for the title. Nicole Hopson, Debbie Hawhee, Donna Fillers, Laura Higgins and Gwen Cobble were the starters. *1988: Ricker and his Lady Rebels made it two state titles in a row, finishing 38-1 on their way to the crown. The only loss in two seasons was to Oak Ridge in a Christmas tournament at Knox Bearden. Again they won the state title in impressive style, beating York 76-49, Gibson
County 70-47 and Cannon County 68-54 in the title tilt. That squad was loaded with talent in Debbie Hawhee, who signed with the University of Tennessee after the season ended, Laura Higgins, Donna Fillers, Tiffney Casteel, Pam Bettis, Lanna Owens, Dawn Stills, Amy Bible, Sherry Casteel, Katina Lafollette, Brandy Redmon and Marcey Davis. *1989: Cannon County finally got some revenge on the Rebels in the 1989 state, beating South Greene in the first round. Laura Higgins, Tiffney Casteel, Pam Bettis, Amy Bible and Jody Reaves were the starters on that squad. *1990: The Rebels drew potent Livingston Academy in the first round and lost to end a 30-6 season. Starters were Pam Bettis, Amy Bible, Jody Reaves, Susan Starnes and Brandy Redmon. *1991: The 1991 year was a constant showdown between the Rebels and district rival Unicoi County. The two teams played five times, including the state championship and they beat the Blue Devils in a 58-48 thriller. To get to the finals they won over Bolivar 75-51, then knocked out old nemesis Livingston Academy 67-57 in the semis. Amy Bible, Jody Reaves, Susan Starnes, Brandy Redmon, Marcey Davis, Amy Huff, Dawn Smelcer, Michelle Stills, Paula Kilday, Tamara Renner, Brando Shelton, Jennifer and Jeanette Davis, Haven Aldridge and Darlene DuBois comprised a very talented roster. *1992: The fourth state title was claimed this year, making it another back-to-back effort for the Rebels. It was also another unbeaten campaign for South Greene at 37-0. It was also the beginning of what would become a tremendous rivalry with Meigs County, whom the Rebs beat in the finals 76-61. To get that far they beat Camden Central 85-66 and Springfield 76-70. It was one of the tallest teams South Greene has ever floored, with the Davis twins, Jennifer and Jeanette at 6-1 and 6-0, and Susan Starnes at 6-0. Jody Reaves, Dawn Smelcer, Paula Kilday, Tamara Renner, Michelle Stills, Haven Aldridge, Amy Huff, Brandi Shelton, Crystal Coffey, Carmen Whaley, Darlene DuBois and Kelley Huff rounded out the roster. *`1993: The rivalry with Meigs County continued, but this time the Lady Rebels were disappointed in the state semifinals, losing to Meigs 74-62, and it was the only blemish
THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION state trip, and this time the Rebs made it to the state semifinals before losing to another perennial power, Livingston Academy, 71-44. South Greene beat Kingsbury of Memphis 55-41 in their tourney opener. The lineup at state included Melissa Dunn, Shalene Haire, Debbi Booth, LeAnne Jaynes and Cassidy Williams. *1999: Coach Ricker’s string of consecutive state trips was broken at 11 as South Greene missed out on Murfreesboro in 1997 and 1998. But they returned with another 30South Greene junior Taylor Lamb has win campaign in been named Most Valuable Player of the 1999 and went to TSSAA Class A Girls’ Basketball State the state semifinals before bowing Tournament for two consecutive years. out to Jackson County 52-42. on an otherwise perfect season as the They defeated Booker T. Washington team finished at 35-1. The setback of Memphis 69-46 in the opening broke a 76-game winning streak for round. South Greene. The starting five that year: Sharee The starting five at state was Brandi Shelton, Jeanette and Jennifer Renner, Crystal Harmon, Stacie Dunn, LeAnne Jaynes and Megan Davis, Susan Starnes and Paula Gammon. Kilday. *2000: The school brought home *1994: The team brought back its third silver trophy in 2000 with the silver ball in 1994, advancing another outstanding 35-4 campaign. to the state finals before losing in They beat Marshall County 59-50 overtime to Livingston Academy for and McMinn Central 67-50 before the crown, 53-47. dropping a 50-41 decision to Jackson At state the Rebs beat Harding County in the finals. Academy 59-57 in overtime, then The starting five included Sharee got some revenge against Meigs Renner, Megan Gammon, Heather County with a 60-47 victory in the Haney, Stacie Dunn and Jessica semis. Archer. The starting lineup included the *2001: A final season mark of Davis twins, Jennifer and Jeanette, 30-5 ended in the opening round at Carmen Whaley, Darlene DuBois state as Gibson County roared from and Haven Aldridge. behind in the second half to defeat *1995: It was back to Murfreesthe Rebels 64-57. boro again in 1995, but this one That lineup included Sharee didn’t turn out well at all as Coach Renner, Megan Gammon, Heather Ricker absorbed one of his worst Haney, Nikki Hawk and Jessica defeats ever, 80-42, to rival Meigs Archer. It would be Coach Ricker’s County in the opening round. final state tournament game. Ricker The starting lineup included was later named to the TSSAA Hall Kelly Huff, Carmen Whaley, Debbi of Fame. Booth, Chrystal Coffey and Melissa *2009: Much to the chagrin Dunn. of the South Greene faithful, thus *1996: Another season, another began a rather long dry spell of state
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tourney appearances as the Rebs had to stay at home from 2002-2008., But in 2009, Coach Derek Dyer had another 30-win season and the Rebels advanced to the semis at state. They defeated Hume-Fogg of Nashville 70-52 in the first round before losing to Gibson County 6646 in the semis. The starting five: Rechelle Dye, Ansley Ricker, Brittany Kinser, Megan Casteel and Shelby Hicks. *2010: It was a great year for Greene County basketball, as three local teams advanced to state. Greeneville and North Greene joined the Rebels in Murfreesboro. Derek Dyer’s Rebs beat Polk County 73-53 in the opener, but lost to a very talented Gibson County team 81-42 in the semis. That starting five had Rechelle Dye, Ansley Ricker, Maelyn Cutshaw, Brandi Crum and Shelby Hicks. This would be South Greene’s final year at state in the Class AA field. *2015: Stephen Gregg made it back to Murfreesboro in 2015 in the Class A ranks as a smaller enrollment allowed South Greene to drop down a division. They were successful in their opener, beating Community in a 4846 thriller, but lost to Middleton in the semis in another thriller, 59-58. The starting lineup: Ashton Wykle, Rachel Crum, Lyndsey Cutshaw, Taylor Lamb and Peyton Williams. *2016: South Greene earned the fifth gold ball in school history with an impressive run at state, and it was completed by one of the youngest teams ever assembled by the Rebels. The starting five at the state tourney included one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen. The Lady Rebels finished the year with a 35-4 record. They defeated Pickett County 76-65, won over Community 71-67, then beat Gibson County in the finals 61-55. The starting five: Taylor Lamb, Kinsley Wykle, Braelyn Wykle, TK Franklin and Lyndsey Cutshaw. *2017: With only one senior (Lyndsey Cutshaw) on the roster, South Greene won back-to-back
state championships for the third time in school history and finished 35-4 for the second straight year. The starting five: Taylor Lamb, Braelyn Wykle, Morgan Williams, Lyndsey Cutshaw and Ashlyn Reaves.
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South Greene Pulls Away From Summertown In State Semifinals By WAYNE PHILLIPS Sports Editor Emeritus
M
ake some more room in that already overflowing trophy case at South Greene High School. The Lady Rebels will be bringing home some hardware again this season as they earned a berth in today’s Class A State Championship game after holding off Summertown 62-47 here Friday night (Mar. 10, 2017) in semifinal action at Murphy Center. Coach Stephen Gregg’s squad will take on perennial Class A power Clarkrange at 6 p.m. today for all the marbles. The Rebels are defending champs and will be going after their sixth gold ball in school history. The Rebels have been to state 29 times, the most of any team in any classification. Clarkrange, who beat Hampton in Friday’s other Class A semifinal bout, is making its 23rd trip to state and they have eight championships to show for their efforts, the last coming in 2009. Summertown is a team that lives and dies by the 3-point
shot, and they hit eight of them against the Rebels. After a slow start, they warmed up considerably in the second quarter and cut a 14-point Reb lead down to two points in the third period. But just as they did in their quarterfinal win over Pickett County on Thursday, South Greene would never let the Eagles tie the game or take the lead. “I think last night helped prepare us for tonight,” Coach Gregg said. “We showed some resiliency. They (Summertown) got the momentum shifted, got it down to two points. But the girls responded in the fourth quarter.” Sophomore point guard Braelyn Wykle, who got into foul trouble in Thursday’s game and sat much of the first half, responded strong in this one, finishing with 20 points on 7-of10 shooting. She did not have a single turnover. As a team, the Rebels made only three in the contest. Junior forward Taylor Lamb scored 13 points and came up just short of a double-double as she finished with nine rebounds. Junior Morgan Williams continued her solid tourney play with 10 points. Lyndsey Cutshaw,
Ashlyn, Congratulations on BACK to BACK CHAMPS! We are so very proud of you & all of your hard work! Remember that defense matters & always give 110%! Whatever You Do, Do All To The Glory Of God 1 Corinthians 10:31
the team’s only senior, scored eight despite being sick during the contest. Sophomore Ashlyn Reaves chipped in with seven and helped the Rebs get off to the great first quarter start when they jumped into a 16-2 lead. Madison Dinwiddie led Summertown (26-10) with 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Lauren Graves scored six. “Man, they’ve got great shooters,” Gregg said of the Lady Eagles. “They put Graves in one corner and 14 (Dinwiddie) in the other, and their guards do a good job. They get wide open looks. It was a tough task tonight. We were able to fight off the wave.” The Eagles missed their first nine shots from the floor and allowed the Rebs to get off to the 16-2 lead. But they began finding the range toward the end of the period, trailing 20-10 at the first rest stop. They hit 6-of-9 from the floor in the second period, including treys by Dinwiddie and Graves to close out the half, and trailed by only 31-27 at intermission. A 3-pointer by Dinwiddie with five minutes left in the third left the Summertown deficit at only 35-33.
South Greene did get some breathing room by the close of the third period as Lamb converted a pair of old-fashioned 3-point plays as the lead grew back to 47-38. The Eagles got it
back to seven, but would get no closer in the final quarter as the Rebels were deadly at the foul line, making 13-of-14 during that stretch and 19-of-21 for the game.
STATE SEMIFINAL GAME BOX SCORE SOUTH GREENE
20
11
16
15
62
SUMMERTOWN
10
17
11
9
47
SOUTH GREENE (34-4 overall record) # PLAYER FG-FGA 3P-3PA FT-FTA OREB-DREB PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 11 Wykle, Braelyn 7-10 1-4 5-5 2-1 2 20 1 0 0 1 32 14 Reaves, Ashlyn 3-4 1-2 0-0 0-2 0 7 3 0 0 2 23 20 Cutshaw, Lyndsey 2-4 1-3 3-4 1-0 0 8 1 0 0 1 23 22 Williams, Morgan 3-6 0-0 4-4 2-2 4 10 1 0 0 3 25 32 Lamb, Taylor 4-9 0-0 5-6 0-9 2 13 2 2 1 0 31 10 Wykle, Kinsley 0-1 0-1 2-2 1-0 0 2 0 0 0 0 15 12 Franklin, T.K. 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 0 1 0 0 8 24 Franklin, Katilynn 0-2 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 TEAM 0-2 Total 20-37 3-12 19-21 6-16 10 62 8 3 1 7 160
SUMMERTOWN (26-10 overall record) # PLAYER FG-FGA 3P-3PA FT-FTA OREB-DREB PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 00 Franks, Josie 2-3 0-0 0-0 2-2 3 4 0 1 0 1 21 03 Brazier, Reily 2-6 0-4 0-0 0-1 2 4 2 0 0 1 25 14 Dinwiddie, Madison 6-9 5-7 5-5 1-3 2 22 1 1 0 0 30 21 McGill, Taytum 1-8 0-4 0-0 2-2 3 2 2 1 0 0 18 34 Graves, Lauren 2-8 2-8 0-0 1-1 2 6 1 1 0 0 28 22 Perry, Alexis 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 Jones, Cheyenne 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 31 Brazier, Jenna 1-3 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 3 1 3 0 0 8 35 Rossman, Kylie 1-1 0-0 2-2 0-0 1 4 1 1 0 0 12 45 Brown, Haley 1-1 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 2 0 0 0 0 10 55 Campbell, Kaley 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 3 0 1 1 0 0 6 TEAM 2-0 Total 16-41 8-26 7-7 9-11 17 47 9 9 0 2 160
Braelyn & Kinsley,
Morgan, We are so proud of you! Never lose that heart, drive, determination, and love for the game! Love, Bobby, Tonya, Bryson & Haylee
Be strong when you are weak, Brave when you are scared, And humble when you are victorious! And remember whose you are. John 1:12
Love, Mom, Dad, & Ashton
Love You #14! Mom, Dad & Taylor
Ashlyn Reaves #14 - Sophomore
Morgan Williams #22 - Junior
Braelyn Wykle
Kinsley Wykle
#11 Sophomore
#10 Junior
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Lady Rebels Hold Off Pickett Co. In Battle Of State’s Top Two Offenses By SETH BUTLER Special to the Sun
E
veryone associated with the South Greene program knew Thursday night’s (March 9, 2017) Class A state quarterfinal matchup with Pickett County would be one of the No. 1 ranked Lady Rebels’ toughest games of the season. So tough, in fact, that South Greene coach Stephen Gregg wasn’t able to breathe a sigh of relief until Morgan Williams hit a fast break layup with seven seconds to go to finally put away the No. 4 ranked Bobcats by a 67-62 margin. The victory moves South Greene into the TSSAA Class A state semifinals for the third straight year as the Lady Rebels look to successfully defend last year’s state championship. Pickett County’s season ends with a 30-3 mark. Gregg preached that Pickett County – which South Greene also defeated in last year’s quarterfinals on the way to the school’s fifth gold ball – was a strong program that would take his top-ranked squad to the
limit. South Greene (33-4) led by double digits in the second half, only to see its late third quarter 12-point cushion sliced to just two in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. “I’m not going to lie, I got a little nervous when (the lead) got to two points,” Gregg said. “Not that I didn’t have confidence in the team, you just never know what you’re going to get in those situations. “They handled themselves really well.” It was a position that the Lady Rebels, who have outscored opponents by an average of 31.9 points per game in their 33 victories, have rarely been in over the course of the 2016-17 season. While Pickett County had the momentum in the late stages of the third period as it used a 13-3 run to get back into the game, it was never enough to take the lead. It was a point that Gregg thought was key in the game. “We’ve been behind a few times this year and we’ve battled back,” Gregg said. “I’m certainly glad they didn’t take the lead.
“You could almost feel the atmosphere shifting their way. The old adage, (momentum) went their way several times.” While South Greene never led by more than seven in the game’s final stanza, the Lady Rebels had an answer every time Pickett County cut their lead to a one-possession margin. After the lead was trimmed to 52-50 with 7:55 left in the game, a patient South Greene attack got an open layup from Taylor Lamb to sustain the lead. On two more occasions, Pickett County cut the lead to three points with over four minutes to go, but Williams answered each time with layups that pushed the lead out to five. Both Williams and Lamb finished the night with a coteam high 19 points. Leading scorer Braelyn Wykle, who averages over 19 points a night for South Greene, picked up a pair of first half fouls and had to sit the final 11 minutes of the half. Wykle only played 20 minutes in the victory and scored just seven points, with just one made field goal — although she
distributed five assists. Despite Wykle picking up the two fouls, South Greene was able to grow its lead to double digits by halftime, thanks to a team effort. Williams scored 12 in the first half, while senior Lyndsey Cutshaw
Morgan, The destiny of hard work is always SUCCESS! Congratulations on your achievements this year! You have made us all proud!
Mercedes, Congratulations! We are so proud of you! Love, Papaw & Mamaw Collins
had seven. Aaliyah Brown had a stellar night for Pickett County as she scored 23 points on 10-of14 shooting. Gracie Martin added 18 points and Courtney Pritchett 12 points and eight rebounds.
STATE QUARTERFINAL GAME BOX SCORE PICKETT CO.
13
11
23
15
62
SOUTH GREENE
16
20
16
15
67
pickett county (30-3 overall record) # PLAYER FG-FGA 3P-3PA FT-FTA OREB-DREB PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 03 Geesling, Kassidy 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-3 5 0 2 3 0 0 15 04 Pritchett, Courtney 5-10 0-0 2-4 3-5 3 12 0 0 0 0 32 05 Buck, Abbigail 2-4 1-2 2-2 0-2 4 7 0 0 0 0 28 20 Martin, Grace 6-12 2-4 4-5 0-5 1 18 2 7 0 1 31 34 Hammock, Savannah 1-5 0-1 0-0 0-5 5 2 1 2 0 1 27 01 Brown, Aaliyah 10-14 0-1 3-3 0-2 4 23 0 4 0 3 26 13 Smith, Elly 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 TEAM 1-0 Total 24-45 3-8 11-14 4-22 22 62 5 16 0 5 160
SOUTH GREENE (33-4 overall record) # PLAYER FG-FGA 3P-3PA FT-FTA OREB-DREB PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 11 Wykle, Braelyn 1-4 1-1 4-4 0-0 3 7 5 3 1 0 20 14 Reaves, Ashlyn 1-2 0-1 0-1 1-1 3 2 1 3 0 2 24 20 Cutshaw, Lyndsey 2-5 1-2 2-2 0-2 1 7 5 5 0 3 25 22 Williams, Morgan 8-10 0-0 3-4 2-2 4 19 0 0 0 4 25 32 Lamb, Taylor 5-9 0-0 9-13 1-10 2 19 4 1 0 0 31 10 Wykle, Kinsley 2-4 2-3 0-0 0-0 1 6 0 0 0 1 16 12 Franklin, T.K. 0-3 0-0 0-0 0-1 3 0 0 0 0 0 7 24 Franklin, Katilynn 3-7 0-2 1-1 1-3 1 7 1 0 1 0 12 TEAM 0-1 Total 22-44 4-9 19-25 5-20 18 67 16 12 2 10 160
T.K., So glad you are living out your dream of playing for the Lady Rebels! So proud of the person you have become! Love, Mamaw
Love You! Dad & Monica
Mercedes Collins
Morgan Williams
#30 - Freshman
#22 - Junior
T.K. Franklin #12 - Sophomore
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2016-17 SEASON STATISTICS # PLAYER 10 Wykle, Kinsley 11 Wykle, Braelyn 12 Franklin, T.K. 14 Reaves, Ashlyn 20 Cutshaw, Lyndsey 22 Williams, Morgan 24 Franklin, Katilynn 30 Collins, Mercedes 31 Howlett, Hailey 32 Lamb, Taylor 42 Bailey, Harlee
ABOVE: The South Greene girls’ basketball team is pictured following practice at Tennessee Tech University on their way to the 2017 TSSAA Class A State Tournament in Murfreesboro.
PPG RPG APG SPG GP FG% FT% 3P% 5.3 2.2 1.0 1.7 38 42 83 39 18.5 2.1 2.3 2.2 36 62 89 43 6.2 3.5 0.5 1.4 38 58 62 0 3.8 1.8 0.9 1.4 38 49 45 34 6.9 2.4 1.5 1.6 34 51 65 38 9.3 4.7 1.2 2.1 38 52 69 23 5.4 1.8 1.0 1.6 38 51 67 31 1.5 1.2 0.3 0.7 24 32 38 18 2.4 1.8 0.2 0.7 28 40 46 13.9 7.2 1.5 1.9 38 54 68 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2 - - -
SOUTH GREENE (35-4 overall record) 11/15 Dobyns-Bennett (HOF) W, 65-41 11/15 Sullivan East (HOF) W, 95-82 11/19 Sullivan Central (HOF) W, 70-33 11/19 Daniel Boone (HOF) W, 63-49 Greene Co. Thanksgiving Tourney at CDHS 11/21 Cherokee W, 87-31 11/25 West Greene W, 77-30 11/26 Chuckey-Doak W, 73-53 11/29 at Chuckey-Doak W, 64-57 12/3 at West Greene W, 70-11 12/5 Gatlinburg-Pittman W, 68-63 12/8 Morristown West L, 63-53 12/9 University High W, 92-27 12/13 at North Greene W, 80-32 Andrew Johnson Ladies Classic 12/28 Clover, S.C. W, 76-33 12/29 Tennessee High W, 68-47 12/30 Oak Ridge L, 51-41 12/31 Morristown West L, 57-56 1/3 at Grainger W, 74-45 1/10 Unaka W, 73-47 1/13 at Hampton W, 60-49
1/14 Chuckey-Doak W, 70-53 1/17 at Cloudlan W, 54-37 1/20 at Gatlinburg-Pittman L, 52-50 1/21 West Greene W, 90-31 1/24 North Greene W, 83-13 1/27 at University High W, 78-21 1/31 Cloudland W, 42-36 2/3 at Unaka W, 74-37 2/7 Hampton W, 71-37 2/14 Grainger W, 60-50 District 1-A Tournament at Daniel Boone 2/18 Unaka W, 71-38 2/21 Hampton W, 79-59 Region 1-A Tournament 2/24 Washburn W, 85-20 2/27 Cloudland W, 73-58 3/1 Hampton W, 61-33 Class A State Sectional 3/4 Meigs County W, 94-48 Class A State Tournament 3/9 Pickett County W, 67-62 3/10 Summertown W, 62-47 3/11 Clarkrange W, 66-57
2016-17 ROSTER: #10 junior Kinsley Wykle • #11 sophomore Braelyn Wykle • #12 sophomore T.K. Franklin • #14 sophomore Ashlyn Reaves • #20 senior Lyndsey Cutshaw • #22 junior Morgan Williams • #24 junior Katilynn Franklin • #30 sophomore Mercedes Collins • #31 junior Hailey Howlett • #32 junior Taylor Lamb COACHES: head coach Stephen Gregg, assistant coach Jordy Harrison, assistant coach Marc Wright, assistant coach Mike Taylor
Lyndsey, Congratulations! We are so proud of all that you have achieved! Best wishes for your next adventure! We can’t wait to see where life will take you next.
Mercedes, Congratulations on an outstanding year with the Lady Rebels. We are so proud of you and know you can do anything you want. Work hard and dream big! We love you! Mom, Dad, Tristan, & Nannie Rice
Morgan, Congratulations on a wonderful year with the Lady Rebels! We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments this year. Believe in yourself always and you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to! We Love You! Mom, Peyton, Addison and Nannie
With Love & Pride Today & Always Mom & Dad
Lyndsey Cutshaw
Morgan Williams
Mercedes Collins
#20 - Senior
#22 - Junior
#30 - Freshman
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South Greene junior Morgan Williams goes for a rebound against Clarkrange.
THE GREENEVILLE SUN • SGHS LADY REBELS EDITION
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South Greene junior Kinsley Wykle tries on her state championship hat following the Lady Rebels’ win over Clarkrange at the Murphy Center earlier this month.
University of Alabama head coach and former NBA great Avery Johnson introduces himself to the Lady Rebels. The Crimson Tide were practicing at Belmont University for their SEC Tournament game in Nashville prior to South Greene holding its practice.
South Greene sophomores Ashlyn Reaves and T.K. Franklin help each other adjust their state championship hats.
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South Greene players Braelyn Wykle and Hailey Howlett leave the Murphy Center floor with hardware in tow following the TSSAA Class A state championship game earlier this month.
To A
Lady Rebels will face new challenges next season as they move up a classification BY TATE RUSSELL Sun Sports Writer
F
ollowing South Greene’s state semifinal win in Murfreesboro Friday (March 9, 2017), losing coach Craig McGill of Summertown may have spoken for the rest of Class A girls’ basketball in the state of Tennessee as he was leaving his post-game press conference. “I sure will be glad when these guys are in double A,” McGill laughed as he congratulated the Lady Rebels on his way out of the interview room. McGill will get his wish. The final horn on the 2016-17 season marked the victorious culmination of one chapter of South Greene girls’ basketball and the beginning of a new, more challenging one. After dominating Class A over the past two seasons and winning back-to-back state titles for the third time in program history, the Lady Rebels will move back to Class AA four years after dropping down a classification. It will be a new challenge for the Lady Rebels, and one they are embracing as they have their eyes set on a three-peat. “I think we are ready,” South Greene junior forward Morgan Williams said. “We just have to play next year like we did this year and we’ll come back down here and get another gold ball.”
Over the past four seasons, South Greene accumulated a 64-8 record against Class A opponents, including a 37-1 mark during its two state-championship campaigns. The Lady Rebels move into District
2-AA next year, which includes the likes of Greeneville, Grainger and ChuckeyDoak. All three of those teams will return key portions of their rosters. South Greene did play Chuckey-Doak three times and Grainger twice this past
South Greene head coach Stephen Gregg talks to his team prior to a game at the 2017 TSSAA Class A State Tournament in Murfreesboro.
season, winning all five games by an average margin of 16 points, including a 74-45 rout of district champion Grainger. Looking past the district, Region 1-AA includes an Elizabethton program that has advanced to the Class AA state tournament four of the past five years. Region 2-AA champion GatlinburgPittman advanced to the Class AA Final Four this year and South Greene split a regular season home-and-home series with the Lady Highlanders. The Lady Rebels also will no longer be the defending champions of their classification. Upperman owns that claim after defeating Pearl-Cohn 66-62 in this year’s Class AA state championship game. But that is something the South Greene players embrace as a challenge to prove themselves once again. “I think we have something to prove,” South Greene junior and Class A State Tournament MVP Taylor Lamb said. “We’re going into a higher stage now and a bigger division. They will think that we are just a single A school, but we have something to show everybody.” With nine of the 10 players on this year’s state tournament roster returning next season – including a two-time state tournament MVP in Lamb and the team’s leading scorer in Braelyn Wykle – the CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
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FROM PAGE 30
South Greene’s Taylor Lamb Named A Miss Basketball Finalist For Second Consecutive Season
For the second consecutive year, South Greene’s Taylor Lamb just missed out on being named the top girls’ basketball player in the state for her classification. Lamb was one of three players honored as a finalist for the 2017 TSSAA Class A Miss Basketball Award during a ceremony held at the Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University prior to the start of the state tournament. She is pictured with coaches Marc Wright, Jordy Harrison and Stephen Gregg. As we watch you grow into such a beautiful young lady, we could not be more proud of the person you are becoming! Your heart is huge, your faith is strong, and most of all your love for life and those around you reflect your amazing character! Always stay positive and believe in yourself!
Morgan Williams, All Tournament And State Champion! We are so proud of you and your accomplishments this year! Love You! Mamaw and Papaw Buxton
Lady Rebels now turn their attention to making history. They have the opportunity to become the first team at South Greene to win three state championships in a row. “That’s our new goal starting today, to get that third one,” South Greene coach Stephen Gregg said. “This is our third repeat, but we have never had a three-peat. We have talked about the history and talked about being the group that could set that mark. “We knew this group was special when they were seventh graders and we started putting a little extra interest into them. They have been down here (in Murferrsboro) and are familiar with this campus. That is when they really started to play together (at camp in Murfressboro). They had a little edge about them in elementary school. That was part of the reason we got them together, so they could enjoy this moment today.” Only five public schools have ever won three consecutive state championships, and no school has won consecutive titles after moving up a classification. The last team to win three or more consecutive state championships in girls’ basketball was Jackson County, who won four between 2000 and 2003. The other programs to win three or more in a row are Shelbyville (1989-1992), Pickett County (1977-1980), Bradford (1996-1998) and Clarkrange (1983-85). South Greene will have one big hole to fill next year as they lose the toughness and leadership qualities of guard Lyndsey
Congratulations to the 2017 Lady Rebels
for an outstanding year and on your
State Championship Win!
Love, ALL of your family!
We Enjoyed the Ride!!! Morgan Williams #22 - Junior
Hailey Howlett
#31 - Junior
The Greeneville Sun
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